Vehicle-wheel.



PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905.

G. G. JACKSON.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLIGATIoN FILED 10011.20. 1905.

GUY GARFIELD JACKSON, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHIICILEMWHEEIL..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14e, 1905.

Application filed March 28, 1905. Serial No. 252,457.

To fn// 1071/0711, it r11/Cty concern,.-

Beit known that I, GUY GARFIELD JACKSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alleglieny, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-W heels, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in whichm Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, .of my improved cushion vehiclelwheel. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection thereof on the line II H of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4t are detailviews showing modifications.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle-wheels, moreparticularly that class of wheels used for automobiles and similarvehicles; and the object of the invention is to provide a wheel having asolid tire with an infiatable cushion intervening between the hub andtire or tread portion of the wheel.

Generally stated, the invention consists of a central hub portion and anoutei concentric body portion relatively movable with relation to thehub and provided with a peripheral tire with an intervening' cushion,preferably inflatable, adapted to normally hold the wheel proper inconcentric relation to the hub or axle center, but to permit ofconsiderable relative movement due to the load, inequalities in theroad, &c.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the invention is illustrated, 2represents the hub, provided with a tubular extension 3, preferablyintegral and adapted'to be incorporated with any suitable axle bearingorskein, so as to provide free rotative movement. The hub is providedwith a peripheral flange 4 at one side, also preferably integral, and asimilar flange 5, secured upon the hub by threaded engagement, as shown,a lock-nut 6 being preferably employed to hold the Hange againstloosening. The wheel proper consists of a disk composed ofoppositely-arranged sheet o1' plate metal sides 7 7, the inner portionsof which are parallel and adapted to be embraced between the flanges 15, the outer portions of the sides preferably tapering toward the rim 8,which is formed by bending the disks abruptly outwardly, as shown, so asto provide a flat tire-base 9. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings the base is made integral with the sides 7; but it isobvious that other forms of construction may be adopted so as to providea similar result, as by separately connecting the base, as shown in Fig.3. In the integral construction the sides are connected at intervals bya circularlyarranged series of rivets 1() with intervening spreaders orwashers 11, while a bracing-plate 12 is also held by the rivets 10between the sides and extends outwardly into abutting contact with themeeting edges of the bases 9, thereby strengthening and reinforcing thebase.

Between the outer peripheral circumference of the wheel and the hubportion, at any suitable point, dependent upon the size of the wheel,the conditions of service, &c., is located a concentricbracing-spreader13,1ivetedto the sides 7, as shown, and providing aninner backing for the outer periphery of the inliatable cushion. For thepurpose of insuring a nonrotatabl'e engagement therewith of the cushionand preventing relative movement of these parts the spreader 13 is madein polygonal form, as octagonal, thereby providing a series of connectedflat faces 14, against which the corresponding iiat faces of theinflatable cushion will bear. For the same purpose the exterior of themiddle portion of the hub 2 is likewise made in polygonal form, ashexagonal, providinga series of connected flat faces 15, which provide abearing' for the inner correspondingly-shaped central portion of theinliatable cushion. The cushion, which is interposed between thebracing-spreader13 and the hub, consists of a hollow body, preferably ofrubber, having oppositely-locat`ed side walls16 16, an outer rim 17, andan inner rim 18, said outer and inner rims being molded to conform tothe flat faces of the bracing-spreader and hub, respectively. Thecushion is provided with an iniiating valve-controlled connection 19, asuitable opening being left in the side of one ofthe plates 7 for makingattachment with a source of air-pressure, by which means the cushion isiniiated to the desired degree. For the purpose of more positivelyconnectingl the cushion with the bracing-spreader and hub, respectively,so as to prevent rotation, the inner and outer rims are provided withinterlocking abutments or pins 2() of any suitable construction havingheads embedded in the substance of the cushion with projecting terminalsadapted to engage in suitable recesses in the spreader and hub, asclearly shown, and by this construction these interlocking devices TOOcoperate with the other portions and effectually prevent rotation of thewheel-disk independent of the hub.

The inner parallel side portions of the disk 7 are embraced between theianges t and 5, as shown, and are preferably rounded on their inner sideedges, as indicated at E21, so as to prevent pinching or cutting of thecushion due to movement of the wheel, and the cushion itself is alsopreferably tapered inwardly toward the central opening, as indicated at22, to insure clearness, while providing foispreading of the cushionunder excessive pressure. For the purpose of preventing friction and ofinsuring an easy working joint throughout the interior faces of the hubsthey are provided with concentrically-arranged channels 23, preferablyof dovetail form, to hold the packing, in which channels are securedpacking-washers 24:, of felt, graphite, or othersuitable material orsubstance, which may, if desired, be saturated with oil or grease, so asto provide sufficient lubrication, and these elements materiallyfacilitate the easy working of the device.

If it is desired to attach driving mechanism to the wheel, theattachment is preferably made with the wheel-disk portion beyond thehubs, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, wherein a sprocket-wheel25 is secured to the disk beyond the hubs sufficiently far to preventinterference by means of Spanner-arms 26. By this construction the poweris transmitted directly to the traction-Wheel, relieving the hub of allstrain, although ordinarily in the running wheels of the vehicle thistorsional strain will not exist, the wheel acting merely to support theworking load.

In action the weight of the carriage will be transmitted to thesupporting-wheel disks through the intervening cushions, which will bemore or less compressed, and it will be understood that the diameter ofthe cushion, thickness of its walls, and the pressure of the containedair will be adjusted to suit the conditions of use. It will be observedthat the cushion is well protected from injury or puncture, while itentirely obviates the necessity of employing a pneumatic tire, thusavoiding the various objections and injuries to which such tires aresubject.

The tire proper, 27, may be of any suitable form, construction, ormaterial and secured upon the rim of the wheel in any suitable ordesired manner within the judgment of the builder or designer. The wheelis capable of application to various uses. It may be greatly modified orchanged to suit the requirements of use as to size, design, or variousother features or details by the skilled mechanic; but all such changesare to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is--` 1. In a vehicle-wheel,the combination with a hub having a polygonal exterior and anembracing-flange, of a corresponding adjustable flange, an outer Wheelcomposed of disks located between said flanges and provided withinternal polygonally-arranged cushion-bearing elements, and acompressihle cushion having inner and outer polygonally arranged facesadapted to bear against the hub exterior' and said wheel-bearings,substantially as set forth.

2. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination with a hub and an outer wheel, ofan intervening compressible cushioning device provided with embeddedholding devices adapted to engage the hub and wheel so as to preventrelative rotation of the parts, substantially as set forth.

3. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination with a hub and an outer wheelrelatively movable thereto and provided with an interior cushionbearingportion; of an intervening compressible cushioning member havingembedded holding devices adapted to engage the hub and said innerbearing portion respectively so as to prevent relative rotation of theparts, substantially as set forth.

4. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination with a hub and an outer Wheelrelatively movable thereto and provided with an interior cushionbearingportion; of an intervening compressible cushioning member provided witha series of embedded abutments adapted to engage the hub and outer wheelfor preventing' relative rotative movement of said parts, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination with a hub having a polygonalexterior and an outer wheel having a polygonal interior bearing portion;of an intervening cushioning member provided with faces adapted toengage the faces of the said hub and Wheel bearing portion respectively,with supplemental devices incorporated with said cushioning' memberadapted to engage thc hub and bearing portion respectively,substantially as set forth.

6. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination with a hub having a polygonalexterior and an em- IOO IIO

bracing-ange; of an adjustable flange, an

GUY GARFIELD JACKSON.

Witnesses:

R. H. JAcxsoN, C. M. CLARKE.

